The following article appeared in the February/March 2013
Olympia Food Co-op Newsletter:
VOLUNTEER PROFILE
SCOTT YOOS
by Desdra Dawning, Co-op Member
Interviewing Scott Yoos has been an adventure. Because of head
injuries suffered from what he now describes as a "rather severe
MIS-adventure in hitch-hiking," Scott communicates mostly through sign
language and/or by writing his thoughts down for others on a white
board--or any scrap of paper he can find. So rather than sit down and
talk, I wrote out some interview questions for Scott, and what follows
are his very candid answers, interspersed with a few comments of my own.
Perhaps we can start first by explaining in more detail how Scott
lost his ability to speak (I can't say "lost his voice" because his
"voice" comes from his heart, it's strong and clear and he gets it
across in many very creative ways.) Following his high school graduation
in 1984, Scott decided to take a trip--much to his parent's
dismay--from NY to CA, "via thumb," as he puts it. "Unfortunately, I
only made it about half-way across, 'cuz I was pathetically naive in
those days, and I dumbly accepted a ride from a carful of drunken thugs.
They beat me bloody and robbed me of my gear." Waking up on the
shoulder of an old mining road in Leadville, Colorado, he managed to
stagger to an auto maintenance shop, and was air-lifted to a hospital
where he spent nearly 3 weeks in a coma. That trip, motivated by a
desire to assist Gary Hart's presidential campaign against "Ronnie
RayGun", was just the beginning of what has come to be a lifelong
profession as a political, environmental and social activist.
It is fascinating to see how one event in our lives can lead us in
sometimes wonderfully eventful directions. Because of his, as he
describes it, "admittedly unusual disability," in the late 80's Scott
"was offered and accepted an irresistably-generous 'freebie' first year
deal" at The Evergreen State College (TESC). "Of course, I had to cover
my rent and other living expenses, but the academic portion of my 1st
year was PAID! -Needless to say, this opportunity was VERY seductive,
and it is what first brought me to Oly." The following school year,
Scott dropped-out of school, and became a staffmember for the Bread and
Roses Drop-In Center & Soup Kitchen in downtown Olympia. His
childhood, being raised as a "P.K., a Preacher's Kid," made him very
leery of religious
organizations, but what he found with Bread
and Roses--part of the Catholic Workers' movement--was that they were
"strangely palatable, in that they really DO help a lot of downtrodden
people...they walk their talk."
Scott's calling to activism led him, (and continues to lead him), in
diverse directions. While at TESC he was active with WASHPIRG, published
photos and articles in Works in Progress and Slightly West, and
participated in a massive anti-nuke protest rally at the Nevada Test
Site. Scott also proudly points out that in 1986 he participated "as a
'Marcher' on The Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament." Then
adds that "NOT shockingly, that March hasn't (yet) achieved its
admittedly ambitious stated objective--nearly 3 decades later, and we're
STILL tottering at the brink of a fiery-fate, even MORE horrible than a
plunge from the dreaded 'Fiscal Cliff'! Nonetheless--the GPM was an
awesome and glorious thing to experience. Our route started in Barstow,
California, and eventually crossed the entire continent, on-foot, clear
to Washingtoon D.C. Just to be a part of that huge, intentional
community, an actual "tent city," which re-located every day...now THAT
was a 'messy-but-NEAT' thing!"
After a decade-long detour "in rural North Western Maine, living
fairly 'primitively,' in a very poorly-insulated, fully non-electric
cabin in the woods," losing girlfriends, but holding on to his
"magnificent Belgian Shepherd/Husky (named Tovarish)", Scott "returned
to Cascadia for the national EARTH FIRST! Round River Rendezvous near
Cripple Creek, Oregon." ...Next stop, -Olympia! And here he is, still
today. Most of his "BioFam" have now emigrated from Upstate Western
New York to the NorthWest: a sister, a brother, 3 nephews, and his mum.
I asked Scott to share some thoughts on his volunteer work at the
Co-op--what he does, what he likes about it: "I can be found "slaving
happily" in (or around) the produce aisle of the Westside Store, most
every durned Tuesday afternoon! Given the choice, I usually prefer to
work 'on-the-floor', doing customer service work, rotating, stocking and
RE-stocking our enormous abundance of organic fruits and
veggies." Scott lives in East Olympia, but admits, "If I was more
sensible I'd probably do my volunteer shifts at the Eastside branch,
which is MUCH closer to my trailer-home, ...but, I'm NOT very 'logical,' and have a definite, long-held bias towards the small but Beauty-FULL
Westside store, where I've worked for many years." Scott sings the
praises of the PLU #4000 bins in the produce aisle for their bargain
prices. "Every single day," he says, "Americans send between 30-50% of
all edible food products to the landfills. In a country where Hunger
and proper nourishment are still enormous, unresolved challenges, this
is a real SHAME. The Co-op's #4000 bins allow 'penniless students' and
plain ol' frugal folks (like me) to enjoy 'less-than-Perfect, but still
safe-enough-to-eat' organic fruits and vegetables, for the bargain price
of just $.50 per pound! (I've scored many an 'ugly' but delicious meal
from this highly-unpredictable, low-budget food resource!)"
Scott also enjoys the "treemendous, weekly responsibility of being
the indoor plant-waterer for the Westside branch. (Incidentally, did you
realize that the Co-op now employs TWO thriving, carnivorous plants at
that store...as part of our extensive campaign against the friggin'
fruitflies, gnasty gnats, and other pesky insect pests?!? They're
well-fed and, frankly, pretty durned COOL!)"
When asked what he appreciates about the Co-op, Scott replied,
"Having the opportunity to routinely see and to assist my friends and
other community members. I also like having the chance to earn
discounted "Volunteer Member" cards, which make shopping at the Co-ops
MUCH more-affordable to me! In the produce aisle, I love it when we're
able to feature LOCALLY-GROWN eats... from farms, growers and gatherers
right here, within our OWN BIOREGION. (-No, ...I'm not going to suggest
that we immediately quit importing ALL of our many, exotic
delicacies...eventually that just might happen by itself!?) But, I
particularly love helping folks to eat good, nourishing, organic grub
that's been LOCALLY-GROWN, and is IN-SEASON!"
I wondered if there was anything Scott would like to see changed at
the Co-op. His reply? "I'd love to see a decreased reliance on
brand-new, 1st-use bags. We usually get PLENTY of 2nd-use shopping bags
(and boxes) at the Westside store, and I'm guessing that the Eastside
branch has a similar situation. (Geesh...just how hard can it be to
remember to carry your bag(s) WITH you?!)"
Scott has been an active volunteer member of many groups in Olympia
over the years: Helping to edit and distribute Works In Progress, Books
to Prisoners, Food Not Bombs,
the local Free Skool at Media
Island (where he has helped co-teach beginners' classes in basic sign
language), the Green Party of South Puget Sound, Olympia Movement for
Justice and Peace, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and regularly helps
with postering for the Olympia Film Society at the Capitol Theater,
& for events at Orca Books.
One fateful night, (June 1, 2011), as Scott was riding his bike (his
primary source of transportation) home from the theater, he threw some
soggy napkins into an open dumpster. As he further describes the event,
"Ever-vigilant, the Olympia Police Department promptly stopped and
brutally-arrested me, when I responded to their questions with sign
language. Now I am accused of trespassing, resisting arrest, and
assaulting an officer." His civil rights/criminal defense attorney Larry
Hildes, and the Scott Yoos Legal Defense Fund (LDF) have been trying to
extricate him from, as Scott puts it, "a nightmarish lesson in
perniciously persecutorial police power, 'unquestionable' Authority, and
our snail-paced "justice system." Buried under huge legal debt, Scott
adds that "this foolishness has been draining me, Thurston County's
taxpayers, and my nationwide community of supporters for nearly
TWO-YEARS now!" Atty. Hildes has submitted a Motion to Dismiss, which
will continue in February. (No date set at the time of this writing).
*If you are interested in learning more about what is happening with
Scott's struggle, PLEASE visit: www.scottysupport.blogspot.com and/or
"Scott Yoos Ldf" on Facebook.
Donations to his legal defense fund can be made by mail or in person
at any branch of the Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU).
Checks should be made out to: Scott Yoos LDF, and the envelope should be
addressed to: Scott Yoos LDF, c/o WSECU, P.O.B. WSECU, Olympia, WA
98507. One hundred percent of your donations will go directly towards
Scott's legal defense.
It has been my great pleasure to share some moments with Scott Yoos, a
gentle big-hearted soul, and to learn about his ongoing legal battle.
Having attended a recent hearing, and met the diverse and
socially-conscious group of people who have gathered to support him, I
encourage all Co-op members to learn more about and support him as he
continues to stand before our local court system.
